David Lauritzen, Bradley Bains and Joe Baker of Midland’s Cotton Bledsoe Tighe & Dawson law firm filed the original lawsuit and will continue to represent the companies. They have been joined by Zona Jones and Michael Havard of Provost Umphrey Law Firm; Louis K. Bonham of Osha Liang LLP; and Patrick Zummo of the Law Offices of Patrick Zummo.

“We were hired as additional counsel to come and work on the case. That sometimes happens,” said Jones in a telephone interview.

He said the plaintiffs have not stated a maximum amount of damages but in their pleadings have said damages exceeded $500 million.

“This is not a new lawsuit and was referenced in our 2015 10-K, as well as our 2014 public filings,” Apache said in a statement provided to the Reporter-Telegram. “Apache believes the plaintiffs’ claims lack merit, and further that plaintiffs’ alleged damages are grossly inflated. Apache is vigorously opposing the claims. Moreover, the plaintiffs recently filed an amended petition that drastically reduces their claimed damages. The $1.1 billion previously mentioned no longer represents the amount claimed. Even with the plaintiffs’ reduced claim, the lawsuit lacks merit and plaintiffs’ revised damages remain grossly inflated.”

The plaintiffs’ attorneys said Apache’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings indicate the case involved potential damages of more than $1.1 billion.

Jones said he and the other lawyers new to the case will work with Lauritzen, Bains and Baker as the case proceeds.

Plaintiffs have requested a jury trial.

“We will be asking the court to set a trial date along with the entry of a case management order that sets deadlines by which certain discovery matters are to be completed,” Jones said. “Since we just entered the case, I do not expect this to happen for another three to four weeks.”

The dispute centers on contracts the four companies signed in 2011 covering the oil and gas leases in an area known as the Bivins Ranch and Tascosa Dome areas. Under the contracts, the three companies were entitled to reclaim up to one-third of the interests they sold to Apache. However, the oil and gas companies say Apache never provided the required documents for 2012 and 2013.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to order Apache to provide a proper accounting of the drilling and payout records associated with their contracts since they say Apache has failed to provide proper documentation from the start.

In addition to the requested accounting and the allegations of breach of contract and fraud, the lawsuit also includes claims against Apache for breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, gross negligence and conversion, among others.

“Obviously, this is a significant field, and the potential for economic harm and loss is big,” Jones said.